Idea was spawned in this thread:

http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/24038?page=2#299711

Basically, the idea of a one-weapon fighter is pretty boring for those who begin (at least it was for me IMO and it still is). I don't see how anything outside of an EC should have one weapon port. Don't get me wrong, I love the gameplay, damage and everything seems spot on, I just feel like things are a little undergunned.

Here's how I think it should be done

There should be different types of weapon ports split into categories rather than size. This would allow for variable weapon load-outs without breaking the game and making other ships much more appealing.

Types of ports:

Non-Ammo Based Weapon Port - Small non-ammo items
Ammo-Based Weapon Port - Small ammo-based items
Support Weapon Port - Formerly Large items
Turret Port - Turret stuff
Power Cell Port

So, let's apply this to the basic ships:

EC

1 Non-Ammo Based Weapon Port
1 Power Cell Port
* Maybe as a repair ship option one can have an ammo-based port?

Centurion

1 Non-Ammo Based Weapon Port
1 Ammo-based Weapon Port
1 Power Cell Port

Vulture

2 Non-Ammo Based Weapon Ports
1 Ammo-based Weapon Port
1 Power Cell Port

Raptor

2 Non-Ammo Based Weapon Ports
1 Ammo-based Weapon Port
1 Power Cell Port

Valkyrie

3 Non-Ammo Based Weapon Ports
1 Ammo-based Weapon Port
1 Power Cell Port

Warthog

2 Non-Ammo Based Weapon Port Ports
1 Support Weapon Port
1 Power Cell Port

Hornet

2 Non-Ammo Based Weapon Ports
3 Ammo-based Weapon Port
1 Power Cell Port

Revenant

2 Non-Ammo Based Weapon Ports
1 Ammo-based Weapon Port
1 Power Cell Port

Atlas

1 Non-Ammo Based Weapon Port
1 Support Weapon Port
1 Turret
1 Power Cell Port

Marauder

3 Non-Ammo Based Weapon Ports
1 Power Cell Port

Centaur

1 Non-Ammo Based Weapon Port
2 Support Weapon Ports
1 Power Cell Port

Ragnarok

1 Non-Ammo Based Weapon Port
2 Ammo-based Weapon Ports
2 Support Weapon Ports
1 Power Cell Port

Behemoth

2 Support Weapon Ports
1 Power Cell Port

Prometheus

2 Non-Ammo Based Weapon Ports
1 Support Weapon Port
1 Power Cell Port

Now for the fun part:

For example, let's say that I'm a new player and I just went through all the tutorials and such. I want to get out of the bus with its one boring weapon and jump into a Centurion. Now, I can customize it:

1 Ion Blaster
1 Yellow-Jacket Missile Launcher
1 Light Power Cell

So, let's say I'm a vet and I want a Vulture, here's what I would do with the same chassis:

2 Neutron Blasters
1 Gemini Missile Launcher
1 Fast Charge Power Cell

This would be more of a quick-fix. Maybe there can be a small weapon port on fighters dedicated to small missile launchers... a little backup weapon with 50% ammo?

-1
this will increase the damage of ships way too much. The only way I would agree for anything of the sort, is if damage is decreased such that the total firepower of a ship remains constant. However in that case, what's the point?

I'm on the fence... on the one hand, Runner has a point. On the other hand, the increased damage is universal.

The point, is more customization and configurability, I believe.

+1. The details must be worked out very very carefully, and it would require huge amounts of work, so it can't be anything within the short term, but I would like to see more weapon configurability, as a first step in more ship customization in general.

Perhaps current ships should receive weapon ports very much like they are now, and new ships could be introduced with additional, specific ports.

Also, this would define ship roles much better than "Armored varient" or "Extra-Cargo Edition."

In addition, in the future, ships could be sold with default sized ports and you could choose between (example for a small default port) ammo based or not upon purchase. This sized-based generality in default ports would allow for even more configuration, without unbalancing ships (by replacing all the ports with support ports [large ports... imagine a rag with five swarms?], etc).

Note: I agree with universal increase in damage. Humans have always been better at destroying than protecting, anyway. Off topic: I believe all impact and explosion (from exploding ships) damage should be increased.

How is it too much? I pretty much added 1 weapon port to every machine or split them into different categories. The difference is, in my method, the small port is not a modular weapon port limited to something with or without ammo. There will be extra damage, yes, but it's not like anyone won't be able to adjust to it. We'll all be dying or killing at the same exact rate.

Although, extra damage is not my concern at all... my concern is Vendetta's gameplay, and right now, flying around in a military fighter that has a single weapon port isn't really that appealing. At all. The Centurion is basically a maneuverable bus, nothing more, and any new player would expect more out of a military craft. The only one I would expect a single weapon port on is the cargo transport version (mkII).

The way I see it: Vendetta has a modular port system that is great but it's limited by how little you have, which is then limited, by all the licenses you have. I don't see why a Centurion, Vulture, or any fighter shouldn't be able to have a primary energy weapon system with a backup missile launcher. Even if a "small missile launcher only" port was implemented on light fighters with say, one or two shots, it would be outstanding. It'll be a pretty nifty edge to give light fighter pilots without nerfing heavier ships with multiple ports.

"It'll be a pretty nifty edge to give light fighter pilots without nerfing heavier ships with multiple ports."

The only problem is that 80 to 90% of the combat pilots use light ships and generally only Vultures, Warthogs and Valks.

--------1

Remind me of something I said awhile back but I'd still prefer that implementation over this. With this you bascially making a format for how everyone will set up there ship and allowing custimization within that format instead of truly allowing custimization.

I made some topic, can't find it now, about giving all ships far more ports but reassessing the ports required for all items so that a simple utility device that doesn't give much of a boost will only take up one small port while a very power gun will take up five small ports.